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Michael Strahan’s Single-Season Sack Record Remains Intact for Another Season

January 4th, 2013 at 6:30 AM By Casey Sherman

For New York Giants fans following the race for the NFL's single-season sack record, last week was a nerve-racking one. Houston Texans' defensive tackle J.J. Watt need only 2.5 sacks, while San Francisco 49ers' defensive end Aldon Smith remained in contention, needing 3.5 sacks to surpass Michael Strahan's record of 22.5 sacks in one season. But after the conclusion of the regular season, Strahan's record stands alone, unscathed.

Strahan's record came with some controversy after it appeared Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre purposely fell down in front of him, giving him an easy sack, putting him in the record books. Many were hoping to see either Watt or Smith come through last week, and become the all time sack leader. One of those people was Mark Gastineau, the man who held the record prior to Strahan breaking it.

“Well, like I said, I really haven’t been keeping up on it,” Gastineau told Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic. “If somebody does get the record, though, I would acknowledge him in a respectful way and that would be almost something I would really enjoy, to see him get a record that he deserves. It would be nice if there was no negativity toward it.”

Strahan's 22.5 sacks has gone 12 years without being broken, though the last two seasons it has come close to being broken. Jared Allen came close last season coming a half sack short with 22. This year it was J.J. Watt and Aldon Smith who came closest, but both fell short, after being shut out in the last week of the season.

Despite the question marks some fans associate with Strahan's record, his tally of 22.5 sacks will continue to be the number to beat in the future.

6 Responses to “Michael Strahan’s Single-Season Sack Record Remains Intact for Another Season”

I think its an interesting offseason. According to blogging the beast, NY was ranked in the middle of the pack age-wise, with an average of 26.4 years, good for the 20th youngest roster. According to ESPN, NY was the 7th youngest roster going into 2011. At the start of 2010, the team was the 3rd youngest, based on figures from the 5th down blog.

Fact is, this is a team where players are aging in a league that is increasingly becoming, with the exception of core players, a young mans game.

Do you think this unit as constituted has another run left in them, or do you make an effort to get dramatically younger in the hopes of having 2-3 more potential runs while Eli is still at the helm? There’s more chance in the latter, to be sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you see Reese and Co. work to infuse the roster with youth. Were in a uniquely perilous situation considering some of our younger players, like Nicks (24), KP (26), Bradshaw (26), have injury records of players much older than they are.

I’m on the fence as to what kind of turnover I’d like to see, but I’m no GM. What do you all think?

I don’t get concerned about “average age” because I know the Giants like experience on their O-line and tend to keep them together for a while. Add in core players like Manning, Bradshaw, Webster, Osi, etc. who have 9+ years and that’s what drives up the average.

You have to look at what’s behind these guys on the depth chart and start penciling them in as starters, with Eli being the exception. The Giants do a nice job getting in young players and grooming them for their future roles. I remember when Jake Ballard was signed out of Ohio State as an UDFA and I thought it was a great move. They put him on the PS and taught him the system and brought him up at the right time and he was a key piece to the puzzle.

Reese has a successful track record of knowing when to say good-bye. O’Hara, Seubert, S. Smith, K. Boss, G. Wilson, B. Jacobs, etc. It’s the ugly “business” part of the NFL but Reese is good at it. We will see a lot of salary going bye-bye come March.

I’ve been saying this for months and it goes with my thought process that a lot of turnover will happen this off season. This team needs to get younger and hungrier. In 2008 we were one of the 3 youngest teams in the league. Each year we have gotten a little older and this happens with teams you build through the draft. You get a young core locked up (Eli, Webster, Tuck, Snee, Diehl) long term, add a few free agents (Boley Canty Rolle) and things are good, but 3-4 years down the road your roster gets old. Throw in a second Lombardi and all the endorsement deals along with all the off field commitments and every one gets fat and happy and loses the fire. Time to infuse a bunch of younger guys.